| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 36-45 | - Fish are schooled up in isolated pods in pre-spawn staging areas, making bites concentrated when schools are located
- Active but selective feeding on baitfish in the middle water column, with fish constantly moving while following bait schools
| - Ledges in 10-30 foot range where baitfish are congregating
- Deep water adjacent to spawning flats with grass, boulder, and sand mixture
- Protected areas near points and bays where water may warm faster
| - Damiki Rig - proven effective for targeting suspended fish in cold water conditions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) - worked slowly through the middle water column
- Drop Shot - effective for working suspended fish once schools are located
| - Alewife - primary forage based on recent reports
- Minnows - secondary forage mentioned in fishing reports
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 36-48 | - Pre-spawn pike actively moving into shallow bays and back channels where water warms first, staging for upcoming spawn
- Feeding actively but in shorter windows, primarily during warmer parts of day when water temperatures rise slightly
- Fish transitioning from winter deep water patterns to shallow spawning areas, using drop-offs as migration routes
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially on north-facing shorelines that receive more sun
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and spawning bays, particularly around 15-25 foot drop-offs
- Areas with mixed boulder and early vegetation growth in 5-15 feet of water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along transition areas
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through shallow warming bays
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows near drop-offs
| - Large Perch congregating near spawning areas
- Winter-stressed Alewife in slightly deeper water
- Schools of various minnow species moving shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 45-65 | - Catfish transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging locations, becoming increasingly active as water warms
- Feeding activity intensifying with warming trends, particularly during dawn and dusk periods
- Fish moving along depth transitions and structure lines, following baitfish movements
| - Steep drop-offs adjacent to shallow flats in 15-25 foot range
- Deep points with boulder structure leading into spawning bays
- Channel edges with submerged vegetation starting to emerge
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow dragging presentation
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along structure breaks
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through transitional areas
| - Various minnow species gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Perch schools in deeper structure
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Smallmouth bass actively spawning and guarding beds in shallow water (2-12 feet), with larger fish typically spawning deeper in protected areas
- Fish showing preference for mixed habitat areas combining grass, boulders, and sand, particularly in wind-protected areas
| - Protected shallow areas with mixed grass, boulder, and sand bottom composition in 2-12 feet
- Rocky points with spawning potential
- Shallow reefs with nearby deeper water access
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits for bed fishing and spawning areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around shallow structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water and locating active fish
| - Crawfish - primary forage during spawn period
- Shad - secondary forage
- Minnows - opportunistic feeding
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 36-62 | - Pike are moving into shallow bays and vegetation areas for spawning when water temperatures reach upper 30s to low 40s
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow but transition to active feeding, targeting abundant baitfish in vegetated areas
| - Shallow, weedy bays with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water adjacent to spawning areas
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily just above emerging weed growth
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows for post-spawn feeding fish
| - Yellow Perch gathering in spawning areas
- Minnow schools in warming shallows
- Bluegill starting to move shallow
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 58-70 | - Catfish transitioning to shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) as water temperatures rise, becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive
- Males preparing and guarding nest sites near structure like logs, rocks, and undercut banks in protected areas
| - Protected coves and bays with firm bottom composition near drop-offs
- Areas with submerged logs, boulders, or undercut banks in 2-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or whole minnows near spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with scented baits around structure
- Bobbers for suspended presentation in shallow spawning areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in similar spawning areas
- Minnow species moving shallow with warming water
- Perch in transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are transitioning to deeper water, exhibiting a typical 'funk' period with less aggressive feeding behavior
- Fish are holding in weed patches along drop-offs and secondary flats, with some scattered individuals still shallow
| - Weed patches along drop-off edges
- Secondary flats below main drop-offs
- Transitional structure between spawning flats and summer areas
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) on light line
- Spinnerbaits during overcast conditions with wind
| - Minnows
- Small baitfish schools
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily relating to emerging weed growth and following baitfish schools in 8-15 foot depths
- Fish are more aggressive during overcast conditions and early/late day periods, taking advantage of the moderate water clarity for ambush opportunities
| - Emerging weed edges adjacent to spawning bays in 8-15 feet of water
- Points and irregular shoreline features with mixed vegetation and boulder structure
- Secondary drop-offs near shallow flats where baitfish schools congregate
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled through baitfish schools
- Trolling Shallow (0-9') along weed edges and structure transitions
| - Yellow Perch gathering in newly establishing weed growth
- Alewife schools moving into warming shallow zones
- Bluegill populations beginning to establish in emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 52-65 | - Moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower feeding zones, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Staging near drop-offs and points that provide quick access to both shallow feeding areas and deeper sanctuary
| - Rocky points and boulder fields in 15-25 foot depth range
- Shallow bays adjacent to deep water drop-offs
- Areas with submerged vegetation beginning to emerge in 8-15 foot range
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or large minnows
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along depth transitions
| - Bluegill concentrating in warming shallows
- Perch schools along drop-off edges
- Various minnow species in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
